TV
India’s first bullet train corridor between Mumbai and Ahmedabad is steadily advancing, with key milestones being achieved every other week. This has raised curiosity about whether Odisha could one day join the country’s high-speed rail network.
Though the state has not been included in any sanctioned corridor so far, its infrastructure strengths and growing demand make the debate increasingly relevant.
Odisha’s Railway Network At A Glance
Odisha currently has about 2,935 route-kilometres of railways, fully electrified on broad gauge. Recent years have seen higher allocations, with more than Rs 10,500 crore sanctioned for the state in 2024-25.
Several projects are under construction, including the Khurda Road–Balangir and Talcher–Bimlagarh lines, along with doubling and multi-tracking works on busy stretches.
Despite progress, however, the state’s rail density remains below the national average. Large parts of the interior and tribal regions are still underserved, and sanctioned projects have faced long delays due to land acquisition and funding issues.
ALSO READ: Railway cancels, diverts several trains connecting Puri, Cuttack, Howrah, Secunderabad; check list
What A Bullet Train Would Mean
If Odisha were included in a high-speed corridor, the impact would be transformative. Travel time between Bhubaneswar and New Delhi could drop from nearly 30 hours to under six. The Bhubaneswar–Visakhapatnam stretch could be cut to under five hours, while Kolkata might be reachable in less than three.
Within the state, the Bhubaneswar–Cuttack journey could take just 15 minutes, and the Bhubaneswar–Puri journey around 20 minutes. Such connectivity could reshape commuting patterns, boost tourism in Puri and Konark, and strengthen industrial centres like Paradip, Angul, and Rourkela.
Challenges On The Ground
Building a bullet train corridor in Odisha would require entirely new tracks, designed with straight alignments and minimal curves. The coastal belt offers relatively suitable terrain, but western Odisha and the Eastern Ghats would demand tunnels and elevated structures, raising costs sharply.
Land acquisition for wide corridors, stations, and depots could also pose difficulties. Ongoing delays in conventional projects such as the Talcher–Bimlagarh and Khurda Road–Balangir lines highlight how procedural hurdles remain a persistent barrier.
ALSO READ: Indian Railways announces over 1,100 special trains for Diwali, Chhath Puja rush; check details
The Road Ahead
The Mumbai–Ahmedabad project, developed with Japanese collaboration, is expected to begin partial operations in 2026 before a full rollout by 2029. Its progress is being seen as a test case for future bullet train corridors in India.
For Odisha, inclusion will depend on demand assessments, technical feasibility, and strong policy backing from the Centre.
For now, the idea remains aspirational. But with full electrification in place, rising investment, and growing industrial and tourism demand, Odisha has a credible case to be considered in the next phase of India’s high-speed rail expansion.
